Display cabinet



March 4, 1941. w SH1ELD$ 2,233,559

DISPLAY CABINET Filed Feb. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- 15 chain devices for personal wear, belt buckles, and ment of the sections and prevent the end panels Patented Mar. 4, 1941 2,233,559

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY CABINET Lowell W. Shields, Rochester, N. Y. assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Company, ,Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,401

3 Claims. (Cl. 312122) The improved display cabinet comprising the inner ends of the side portions come into abutting present invention is primarily adapted for use relationship when the latter portions are telin displaying articles of jewelry, as for example escopically received within the central portion metal initials or character bearing elements, in such a manner as to limit the inward movea great'variety of similar articles. The cabinet from exerting an undue pressure upon the side 5 however is capable of other uses and the same walls of the central portion, thus protecting the -may, with or without modification, be employed side walls from becoming defaced.

for displaying articlesother than jewelry if de- Another object of the invention is to provide 7 10 sired. a display cabinet of this character in which 10 It is an object of the present invention to the inner ends of the extensible display sections provide a. display cabinet of the character set are provided with means thereon for preventing forth above having a central display portion or accidental removal of the sections completely casing and a'pair of movable and extensible disfrom the cabinet construction, while at the same play portionsorsections'which aretelescopically time permitting such removal if removal thereof 15 received-within the central portion or casing and is specifically desired, said latter means addiwhich will occupy and be securely held in their tionally constituting a locking means whereby the respective positions therein when the cabinet is extensible sections may be locked together in telescoped-for transportation or shipment purtheir retracted telescoped positions.

" poses, or when it is desired toconceal the articles Still another object of the invention is to pro- 20 of jewelry whichat other times are displayed by vide a. display cabinet construction possessing these latter extensible sections. in general the features outlined above and addi- It is another object of the invention to provide tionally having a concealed storage space Within I such a cabinet in which the movable display the central portion .or casing which, although it sectionsmay be extended from'the central poris substantially coextensive with the entire 25 tion or casing, and which, when the sections are length, width, and height of the cabinet, in no so extended, will provide in conjunction with the ways interferes with the telescopic features of central-portion a substantially continuous display the cabinet construction. of the jewelry or other articlesof personalwear Another object of the invention is to provide 'mo-unted in the cabinet. a display cabinet having a display compartment "30 Another object of the invention is to provide a provided with a hinged door or window having cabinet of this character in which the movable a frangible glass panel therein through which side sections of the cabinet telescope into the the articles of jewelry being displayed are visible, central display portion or casing thereof through the window being so hinged and positioned that theside walls of the latter in such'a'manner that it tends normally by grav t assume a sed when partially extended, or even fully extended, position, together with means whereby air enthey are incapable of becoming misaligned with trapped in the compartment as the Window in the central portion of the cabinet or with each swinging approaches its closed position will esother. cape from the compartment slowly and prevent 40 A still further object of the invention is toproforcible contact of the window with the jamb of .40 vide a display cabinet having a central portion the compartment, thus preventing fracture of the or casing and a pair of aligned extensible side glass panel. sections which telescope into and out of the cen- The provision of a cabinet construction tral casing through the side walls thereof and possessing telescopic features yet which is com- 5 whichare provided with outer end panels that prised of a minimum number o-f moving parts fit closely against the side walls of the'central and which therefore is unlikely to get out of easing when the sections are retracted and conorder; one which is rugged and durable; and one ceal the openings in which the sections are slidwhich is well adapted-to perform the services reable, While at the same time merging into the quired of it, are further desiratfle features that contour ofthe side walls and enhancing the aphave been borne in mind in the production and 50 pearance of the telescoped or collapsed cabinet development of the present invention. as a whole. Other objects and advantages of the inven Yet another object ofthe invention is to protion, not at this time enumerated, will become vide such a telescopic cabinet with central and apparent as the following description ensues.

,. side portions '-as set forth above --in which' the Inthe -accompanylng two sheets of drawings: .55

ure 2. Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the telescoped display cabinet.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along'theline 55 of Figure 4. I p p u Figure 6 is a rear elevational View of the display cabinet showing the same fully extended.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantiall along the line 'I'I of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the cabinet construction, one of the extensible display sections being removed to more clearly illustrate the nature of the invention.

Referring now' to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the improved display cabinet involves in its general 2 organization a main casing or housing I6 including side walls I2 and I4, a bottom I6, and a partial rear wall I8 extending across or bridging the two side walls I2 and I4 adjacent the top thereof.

3. The forward edges of the side walls I2 and I 4 are inclined and present an oblique front, al-

though a convex or other suitable form of front may be employed if desired. Extending across the front of the cabinet casing at the lower forward edge thereof between the two side walls I2 7 and I4 is a lower face member 26.

The lower or underneath surface of the member 20 is flush with the underneath face of the bottom I 6 and forms ,a continuation thereof, thus permitting the member 26 to seat squarely upon the supporting surface upon which the cabinet construction rests.

Similarly, extending across the front of the cabinet casing I6 at the upper rear edge thereof between the two side walls I2 and I4 is an upper face member 26, the rear face of which abuts against the inner face of the rear wall IS.

The lower face member 26 is formed with a vertical front surface 28' and a rounded surface 5o 30 while the outer exposed surface of theupperface member is curved as at 32. The upper and lower portions of the forward edges of the side walls I2 and I4 are correspondingly curved, thus preventing a degree of symmetry to the cabinet casing.

Referring now to Figure 5, ,a rectangular frame 34 extends around the open front of the cabinet casing I0 and is secured in any suitable manner to the side walls I2 and I4 and to the opposed faces of the upper and lower face members or rails 26 and 30 respectively. The frame34 has secured to the underneath side thereof a tray panel 36 which, if desired, may be cloth-covered, and upon which the articles of jewelry are displayed. The tra panel 36 may be formed with raised division strips or ribs 38 which are spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate individual cards or other holders upon which the articles of jewelry may be mounted, the cards themselves also serving as a feature of the display of the articles.

The frame 34, in addition to serving as asupport for the display tray panel 36, provides a jamb construction for a hinged window 39 having a transparent panel 46, preferably formed of glass, the hinges 42 for the window being mounted on the innersurface of the upper face member 26.

The dimensions of the window 39 are such that the edges of the same fit closely against the inner surfaces of the side walls I2 and I4 and 5 against the opposed inner surfaces of the upper and lower face members 26 and 20 and thus, from an inspection of Figure 2, it will be seen that because the display tray 3615 relatively shallow and occupies a position in close proximity to the win- 1 dow 39 when the latter is closed, an air pocket of comparatively small volume is created beneath the window as the latter approaches its closed po sition. The entrapped air provides a cushion be low and behind the hinged window 38 which re- 15 tards its final closing movement, permitting such movement only as the .air escapes by exfiltration, and thus preventing shock to the window panel 46. Since the window opens outwardly and upwardly, and is subject to being closed by gravity, 20 it is obvious that such a precautionary feature takes on added significance. v

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 5, the side walls I2 and I4 are each formed with an elongated inclined slot 44 therein, the slotsextending 25 substantially parallel to the forward upper edges of the side walls. The slots 44 in the two walls are opposed to each other on opposite sides of the casing ID and occupy respective positions slightly below and to the rear of the plane occupied by the ,30 display tray 36. Positioned immediately behind the lower face member 20 at the bottom thereof and supported upon the bottom I 6 is a transverse guide rail 46 having an upwardly presented curved trough-like guideway 48 therein. Similarly, posi- 35 tioned immediately behind the upper face member 26 and projecting slightly below the upper side of the frame 34 is a guide rail 50 having a downwardly presented curved trough-like guideway 52 therein. The latter guide rail 56 is substanw tially triangular in cro-sssection and has one-face thereof abutting againstthe fragmentary 'rear wall I8.

Still referring to Figures 2, 3 and 5, a pair of extensible display portions or sections 54 and, 45 56 are telescopically received in the opposite sides of the casing Ifl through the slots 44 in the .side walls I2 and I4 thereof respectively. The sections 54 and 56 are substantially identical in construction (or at least entirely symmetrical) and. 50 it is thought that a description of one of these members will suifice for the other.

The section 54 comprises a relatively shallow display tray 58 including a tray panel 60 and a frame 62 to which the tray panel 60 is secured- 55 The tray panel 66, like the tray panel 36, may be cloth-covered and may have associated there with division strips or ribs 64. The height of the tray 58 is slightly less than the width of the slot 44 in the side wall I2 and the upper and lower go top and bottom end pieces of theframe62 are rounded to accommodate the rounded ends of the slot 44. These rounded end pieces of the frame 62 are received between the opposed guideways 48 and 52 and are slidable therein as clearly shown 5 g in Figure 5. v

In order to conceal the outer ends of the trays 56 and the slots 44 in which the trays are slidable, each tray has secured thereto at its outer end a s stantially triangular end panel 66, the forward- 10 i lined edge of which is rounded at the top and bottom thereof to conform to the curvature of the forward edges of the side walls I2 and I4 and withthe curvature of the front faces of the upper and lower face members 26 and 20 respectively.

14 to accommodate such panels.

The transverse width of the extensible-display trays 56 is equal to or slightly in excess of onehalf the distance between the outer surfaces of the side walls 12 and I4, and thus when the display trays 56 are fully telescopically received within the casing H], the inner ends of the trays 56 abut against each other as shown in Figure 4 and limit the inward movement of the end panels 66. In this manner undue pressure exerted inwardly at the sides of the cabinet construction, as, for example, when the assembly is enclosed within a carrying case or the like, or when the same is packed for shipment, will prevent damage to the side walls l2 and I4.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a pair of spaced limit stops 68 in the form of metal plates are rabbeted or otherwise secured into the inner ends of the display trays 56 and project downwardly beyond the plane of the tray panel 60. The limit stops 68 on the two trays 56 are directly opposed to each other and, when the cabinet construction is completely collapsed, the limit stops of each tray occupy contiguous positions with the limit stops of the other tray. Apertures 10 extending through the limit stops 68 permit a padlock or other fastening means 12 (Figures 4 and 5) to be passed through the apertures of either or both pairs of limit stops. The limit stops 68 are designed to engage the inner surfaces of the side Walls [2 and I4 in the vicinity of the slots 44 to prevent removal of the display sections 54 and 56 in their entirety from the casing l when the latter are pulled outwardly to their extreme extended positions. Removal of the sections 54 and 56 may,

however, be efiected if desired by elevating the ends of the cabinet construction from the supporting surface and forcing the outer ends of the sections downwardly and rearwardly to bring the limit stops 68 around the corners provided by the lower edges of the slots 44.

Referring to Figure 8 it will be noted that the upper forward edges of the slots 44 are recessed as at 14 throughout a major portion of the length of the slot. In this manner a clearance is provided in order that the articles of jewelry carried on the auxiliary display tray panels 60 may clear the upper edges of the slots 44 when the sections 54 and 56 are extended or retracted.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figures and 8 that because the slots 44 are formed in the side walls I 2 and M at regions adjacent the upper and forward edge of the latter, the display trays 56 occupy positions which are well up toward the inclined front of the cabinet construction when the trays are telescopically received within the casing l0. Because of this feature there is ample storage space below and behind the panels 60 for the storage of a reserve supply of the articles of jewelry. In order to accommodate such articles, a bin 16 consisting of pigeon-hole compartments may be secured within the casing i0 without interfering with the sliding movement of the trays 56. 1

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification,

as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while the tray panels 36 and 60 have been shown as being substantially flat and occupying respective planes within the cabinet construction, these panels may be concave, convex or in fact of any desired configuration, it being necessary merely to modify the shape of the slots 44 in the side walls l2' and Only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the appended claims is the same to be limited.

Whatis claimed is: v

1. In a jewelry display cabinet having an open relatively narrow slot in each side wall extending parallel to but spaced from the forward edge of the latter and substantially coextensive with said edge, said slots being oppositely disposed and in alignment, a fixed display tray in said cabinet extending across said open front above the level of said slots, a pair of aligned movable display trays slidably disposed in said slots and movable from extended positions to retracted positions within the casing below said fixed tray wherein the inner edges of the trays are substantially contiguous, and a limit stop secured to the inner edge of each movable tray and designed for contact with the inner face of the side wall through which its respective tray extends, said limit stops occupying positions of proximity when the movable trays are retracted, there being apertures in said limit stops for reception therethrough of a locking device.

2. In a display cabinet, a casing having an open front and including a pair of oppositely disposed right-triangular side walls, a vertical rear wall and a horizontal bottom, there being an elongated relatively narrow rearwardly and upwardly inclined slot in each side wall extending parallel to but spaced from the forward edge of the latter and substantially coextensive with said a edge, there being a relatively long recess along the upper inclined edge of each slot providing a clearance portion for articles carried by the trays, said slots being oppositely disposed and in alignment, opposed guideways extending between the slots at the ends thereof, a fixed display tray in said casing extending across said open front above the level of said slots, a shallow display tray slidab-ly mounted within each slot and within said guideways and movable from an extended position to a retracted position within the casing below said fixed tray and vice versa, and righttriangular end panels secured to the outer ends of said trays and concealing the latter and the slots in which the trays are mounted when the trays are in their retracted positions as well as concealing the major portions of the side walls, said panels having lower edges terminating fiush with the underneath side of said bottom whereby the panels and bottom are adapted to be sup ported on a common supporting surface when the panels are extended.

3. In a jewelry display cabinet, a casing having an open front and including a pair of oppositely disposed substantially triangular side walls, a vertical rear wall, and a bottom, there being an elongated relatively narrow upwardly and rearwardly inclined slot in each side wall extending parallel to but spaced from the forward edge of the latter and substantially coextensive therewith, said slots being oppositely disposed and in alignment, a lower face member at the forward edge of said bottom extending upwardly from Lil between the underneath side of the upper-face member and the inner side of the vertical rear wall, a lower guide member having an angular portion nested between the inner side'of the lower face member and the upper side of said bottom, opposed curved trough-like guideways formed. in

said guide members, andapair-of relatively shalmass-559 lguide member'hav ing an 'angular portion nested 10w aligned movable display tray-s slidably disposedin said slots and guideways and movable from extended positions toretracted positions within the casing below said fixed. tray wherein the inneredgesof the trays are substantially con- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,255,559. March L 19in.

, LOWELL w. SHIELDS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 75, after "convex" insert the comma and word angular--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of April, A. D. 19in.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

